'No action' on Euro election candidate arrested in Winchester

AN ELECTION candidate arrested in Winchester on suspicion of racial or religious harassment will face no further action.

Police arrested Paul Weston, leader of eurosceptic party Liberty GB, on the steps of the Guildhall on April 26.

He had been speaking in the build-up to the European elections for the South East on May 22.

Mr Weston was reading sections of Winston Churchill’s book The River War, in which the former Prime Minister said Islam was “retrograde” and “militant”.

The incident sparked a debate on free speech across the country, with fellow South East candidate Daniel Hannan – who was subsequently re-elected as a Conservative MEP – criticising Hampshire police for their “disproportionate” actions.

But now police have informed Mr Weston, whose party came 14th out of 15 parties at the elections, that he will not face any further action.